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[cool] Hey there fellow anglers! I am heading out to Catalina Islands this coming weekend and would like to know if someone has some pointers on catching Calico Bass and Sheepshead.
What kind of rig?
What kind of bait?
What are the size restrictions?
What are the legal limits?
Thanks for your help. I will truly appreciate it.
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calico bass limit is 10 i think.Unsure they must be 12 inches to keep. but please dont catch your limit and keep all of them. i really think that is a bad thing to do. calicos grow at a very very very slow pace! but go ahead and keep some. they are great table fish!
you CANNOT keep sheephead right now. they closed them about a week ago. i dont know why.
that calico subject brought something up. some guy on the monte carlo caught a calico around 10 pounds!!!!! thats a trophy fish!! the  thing is, i think he kept it. i didn't see it on the fillet board, so i am not really sure. anyways....
catalina island is pretty much dead right now. i would try fishing the horseshoe kelp! big yellowtail, decent bass fishing, decent barracuda fishing, and lots of bonito. i would stay away from alot of that dirty water that is out there. thats where we caught most of our fish. and lots of yellows!
as for bait, the fish are eating every thing right now exept the iron. we caught very few fish on the iron. one yellowtail and a couple of bass. the fish are biting the plastics, sardines of all sizes, and anchovies. i would go with bait.
joe
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[size 2] I concur with Joe, and not because we have the same name[  ][size 1]
[/size] [size 2]Here is some old info that is effecting recentley:[/size][/size][size 1]
The Fish and Game Commission adopted new emergency regulations on Dec. 20, 2002 which will affect the commercial fishery for cabezon, greenlings, and California sheephead (CGS) beginning in January 2003. The statewide commercial fishing season for CGS will be open in January and February, closed in March and April and open from May through December or until the total allowable catch level has been reached.
This action serves to align the CGS fishing season with new federal seasons for nearshore rockfish in most areas. Consistent fishing seasons for CGS and nearshore rockfish allows fishing for both groups to occur at the same time which will minimize bycatch that might otherwise occur.
In addition, cumulative trip limits have been established for CGS fisheries statewide for the January-February 2003 time period to ease catch rates and allow for a longer fishing season. Each individual nearshore fishery permit holder will be limited during the two-month time period to: Cabezon - 200 pounds, Greenlings (kelp and rock) - 50 pounds, and California Sheephead - 400 pounds.
The new regulations also require that each permittee keep copies of landing receipts in his/her immediate possession throughout the cumulative limit period and for 15 days thereafter.
These regulatory changes modify Sections 150.06 and 150.16, Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Federal regulations which define fishing seasons and trip limits for minor nearshore rockfishes and California scorpionfish will continue to be published in the Federal Register. Additional regulatory changes for the nearshore commercial fishery are currently being considered by the Commission for adoption in 2003. [/size]
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Hey there tubeN2,
I put my reply to your post assuming you were going on a big sportfishing charter boat on the saltwater board. I hope you're going on a private boat. I'll have more advice to put here if that's the case.
JapanRon
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Hello Guys,
I hope this isn't a totally stupid question, but are you reffering to "[size 1]horseshoe kelp" as a place or a thing? If its a place, where is it? I am going out tommorow on a friends boat and would love to get on some Cuda and Yellows! Any helpful hints would be apreciated!!! We are still up in the air on where we are going.[/size]
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Hey JR, we are going out on the Catalina Epress. Will be fishing from the Pier. If you have some total secrets for that situation then you can PM them to me. ha ha. Any advice would be appreciated. I did see your previous post on the Saltwater board and replied to it. Check it out. Thanks.
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[size 2] Squid and plastics near the docks.[  ][/size]
[size 2] Do you know they rent small skiffs of the green pier? Me and my friend go over once or twice a year stay the weekend and rent a boat all day Saturday, seats like 4 people, for a 100 bucks.[ ][/size]
[size 2] We go fish around the points and rock faces and load up on all kinds of different fish. Including this senorita fish ( I think that is what it is called[blush] ) but we caught a ton of those too.[shocked][/size]
[size 2] Of course the water was alittle warmer. Anyway have fun and good luck. If you get bored there is a club on the island now too.[ ][/size]
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[cool] Thanks as usuall for your info. I am stocking right now with an assortment of plastics. I wonder if they would allow a tube over there. After all the water is generally calm.
How far is that new club from J Ls locker room?? That is one of my favorite hangouts when I am not diving or fishing.
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the horseshoe kelp is a place AND a thing. it is a underwater kelp bed. well....i think it is[:/]. anyways... i dont know any GPS coordinates or anything. i'd just follow the sportboats. thats where they are all going right now. but if you are going earlier than that, well...i cant help ya there. sorry.
joe
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[size 2]Is that the bar with all the sports stuff on the wall? If so I think it is down the street. It's on the hill on one of those streets. I think it's called the Chi Chi Bar. Pretty cool place if your bored. [/size]
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Hi there tubeN2,
I heard the Harbor master did not look kindly toward tubers in the harbor with the traffic and such but that's not your concern anyway.
For the pier fishing, be sure to take a can of green peas. The opaleye love these and they grow to 2 pounds. Why not catch a saltwater 2lb bluegill!!!! Some guys empty the water out of the can a day before to firm up the peas. Don't know which brand is best!
I'd mess around with squid strips if I were you as well as the plastics. I believe they sell live bait at the foot of the pier 'in season'.
JapanRon
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[cool] Hey JR, thanks for the heads up on the tube. I wouldn't generally take a tube unless I had a little more notice and was absolutely sure that there would be no problem with launching.
I have seen the little bait shack at the pier. They have a pretty good selection of Macks, Chovies, Squid, mussels, and Clams. Heck they even sell bread loaves in white bags for the divers to drum up all those girabaldi and calicos. Right there in Lovers Cove it is a wildlife preserve and the diving is supurb. The fish go nuts when they see that white bag under water. Before you know it, you can end up with a hundred or so girabaldi and calicos as well as a dozen or so sheepsheads all in the same area eating the bread together.
I will gather some of the pics that I have taken uderwater a few years back and get them posted. I will take my new digital camera with me this time so that I can get instant pics for monday morning.
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Thanks DH,
We gave it a go. Fishing was bit slow but its good to know the spot. We ended up with a Ray, Skip Jack, Sand Bass. We did see a 8 foot shark but didn't get the wire leaders on in time to cast on it and by the time we did he had moved.
Thanks again for the heads up, we'll be giveing it another run soon.
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Hey there tubeN2,
TubeDude, having extensive fishing experience here in California, was mentioning the green peas thing and he's absolutely right. Getting a bag of frozen peas is the best deal on those as they hang on the hook longer. My friend and I used the slightly dried canned ones but I'd do the frozen hands down. There are lots of Sculpin around the harbor area and sometimes they come close to shore if there are drop-offs near by. Be sure and take some floats or bobbers (clear and water fillable) with you as you may get a chance at the many bonito that are hanging around on the front side. It's only natural they would be hanging around the harbor and the boats in the harbor.
Good Luck,
JapanRon
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